Regatta rates highly

THE distance between Melbourne and the Clarence Valley is vast, but one Victorian school made the trip to its first Clarence Head of the River Regatta in Grafton at the weekend.

Although the crew and teachers of three Xavier College teams flew to Grafton, the boats almost did not make it ? the car which towed them on a trailer was hampered by a tyre blow-out, brakes which failed and the engine 'shorting out'.

The rowers did their school proud on the Clarence River in conditions far different to those in their home State.

Xavier head rowing coach David Doyle said the conditions were challenging.

"There are magnificent conditions here. "We usually race on a lake and this is so different but it's a fantastic warm-up for them before Christmas," he said.

"Being here is a way to really lift our rowing club and it's good for the boys to get to know the other rowers from all different clubs around Australia."